Monster/Race: Gnoll (Hyena Humanoid)

**Hierax** · Jan 10th, '04 05:50 PM

Gnoll (1st Draft):

I'd like to improve my write-up for Gnolls (7.5' Tall Hyena Humanoids).

Does anyone have any suggestions or would like to compare their own versions here?

Gnoll   (Standard 100 Point Warrior)

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Val </td><td>Char </td><td>Cost</td></tr><tr><td align="right">20 </td><td>STR</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td align="right">10 </td><td>DEX</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">15 </td><td>CON</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td align="right">13 </td><td>BODY</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td align="right">8 </td><td>INT</td><td>-2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">10 </td><td>EGO</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">8/15 </td><td>PRE</td><td>-2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">8 </td><td>COM</td><td>-1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td> </td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right">6 </td><td>PD</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">5 </td><td>ED</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">2 </td><td>SPD</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">8 </td><td>REC</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">30 </td><td>END</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">36 </td><td>STUN</td><td>5</td></tr><td></td><td> </td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right">7" </td><td>RUN</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">2" </td><td>SWIM</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">4" </td><td>LEAP</td><td>0</td></tr></table>Characteristics Cost: 34

<table border="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td align="right">Cost </td><td>Power</td><td align="right">END</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">2 </td><td>Thick Fur/Tough Skin: Damage Resistance (2 PD/2 ED) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">15 </td><td>Fangs: Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 1/2d6 (1d6+1 w/STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (15 Active Points) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">2 </td><td>+2 PER with Normal Smell </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">5 </td><td>Discriminatory with Normal Smell </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">5 </td><td>Tracking with Normal Smell </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">2 </td><td>+2 PER with Normal Hearing </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">3 </td><td>Ultrasonic Perception (Hearing Group) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">5 </td><td>Infrared Perception (Sight Group) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">3 </td><td>Scary: +7 PRE (7 Active Points); Limited Power (Only for PRE Attacks) (-1) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">2 </td><td>Large (7.5' Tall): Knockback Resistance -1" </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr></table>Powers Cost: 44

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Cost </td><td>Skill</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">8 </td><td>+1 with All Combat </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">4 </td><td>WF: Common Melee Weapons, Common Missile Weapons </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">0 </td><td>Language: Gnoll (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1 </td><td>Language: Orc or Hobgoblin (basic conversation) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1 </td><td>Language: Troll (basic conversation) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1 </td><td>Mimicry 8- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">2 </td><td>PS: Warrior/Hunter/Predator/Scavenger 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">2 </td><td>Survival 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3 </td><td>Tracking 11- </td></tr></table>Skills Cost: 22

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Val </td><td>Disadvantages</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Distinctive Features (and Social Limitation)- Gnoll: (Easily Concealed; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">20 </td><td>Normal Gnoll Characteristic Maxima </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Physical Limitation - Short-Lived (~35 Years): (Infrequently, Slightly Impairing) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Psychological Limitation - Hatred of Felines and Canines: (Uncommon, Moderate) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Psychological Limitation - Lazy (Dislike Physical Work): (Uncommon, Moderate) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Dislike Bright Light (Uncommon, Moderate) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Reputation: coward, scavenger, lazy, bully, slaver, demon-worshipper, 8- </td></tr></table>
Disadvantage Points: 50
 
Base Points: 50
Experience Required: 0
Total Experience Available: 0
Experience Unspent: 0
Total Character Cost: 100
 
<table width="100%" valign="top"><tr valign="top"><td>Height: 2.29 m</td><td>Hair: Reddish-Yellow</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Weight: 160.00 kg</td><td>Eyes: Green</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Appearance: A typical Gnoll is 7.5' tall weighing around 350 lbs. Gnoll fur is most often spotted Reddish-Yellow but may be striped or brown as well.</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Personality: Hunt and Kill</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Quote:</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Background: Often mistaken for Dog-Humanoids, Gnolls are actually Hyena-Humanoids. Gnolls are ferocious humanoids of low intelligence. They resemble a cross between a human and a hyena. They live in rough, rugged wasteland and wilderness areas. Gnolls may use all weapons, but most do not work metal; they steal most of their metal weapons from humans. They are strong, but dislike work and prefer to bully and steal (D&D Rules Cyclopedia p.180). Gnolls are large, evil, hyena-like humanoids that roam about in loosely organized bands. While the body of a gnoll is shaped like that of a large human, the details are those of a hyena. They stand erect on two legs and have hands that can manipulate as well as those of any human. They have greenish gray skin, darker near the muzzle, with a short reddish gray to dull yellow mane. (2e-MM) - Can actually eat and digest bone Sources: - DD-RC.180; 1e-MM.46; 2e-MM.158; 3e-MM.105-106; HM-HoB.v?.??. - "Gnolls, those Dog-Faced Killers" ( http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=books/fr/gnolls ) - http://www.callofthenightwalker.com/gnoll.htm - http://www.korinth.com/3eKorinthCont...es/gnoll.shtml - Hero: Gnolls are Hyena-Humanoids and while Hyenas are neither dogs nor cats, the write-ups on "Erqigdlit" MMM.38 and "Pakasa" MMM.80 still are useful points of comparison for animal-based humanoids. - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: "The Pack" (Season 1, Episode 6) where Xander and some bullies get possessed by Hyenas. - Hyenas: - "The Hyena Pages" ( http://www.liberalmafia.org/hyenas/ ) - http://www.lioncrusher.com/family.asp?family=Hyaenidae - http://sailfish.exis.net/~spook/hyenatxt.html</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Powers/Tactics: Prey on the Weak, Taunt and Tease, Lure and Ambush</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Campaign Use: Standard NPC Monster humanoid: bigger than an Orc or even Hobgoblin, slightly smaller than a Bugbear or Ogre. When you want the characters hunted by an unruly Pack.</td></tr></table>

**Hierax** · Jan 10th, '04 06:12 PM

I should make it more explicit that I gave Gnolls the equivalent of 1 level of "Growth" because they are on the border of that size (being 7.5' tall); so, if you think they don't deserve that or you just want to make a slightly smaller Gnoll (say 7' tall) then subtract the equivalents of 1 level of Growth (5 STR, 1 BODY, 1 STUN, -1" KB) that I built into the write-up.

FWIW, I use "Growth" equivalents for converting at:

    ~7.5' (1.25x man-sized) = 1 Level of Growth.

    ~ 9' (1.5x man-sized) = 2 Levels of Growth

    ~12' (2x man-sized) = 3 Levels of Growth

I'm used to seeing these write-ups in 4th ed. terms and am trying to put them into 5th ed. terms but this makes implicit what once was explicit.

**nHammer** · Jan 10th, '04 06:48 PM

Over 7ft tall with fangs and he only has a 8 PRE? I would make it a 13 PRE and keep the +7 with PRE Attacks.

Hyenas aren't the scavengers that people think they are. They get kills as much as (possibly more than) lions do.(at least that's what I understand from the nature shows I've seen)

Other than that, I like it.

**Hierax** · Jan 10th, '04 07:38 PM

The PRE is so low because I didn't want Gnolls to be particularly persuasive beyond using force or threats (and I like to keep the two distinct to seperate the diplomats from the thugs, if you will); you see, I wanted them to be less persuasive than humans and certainly not more persuasive, I thought about lowering it to 6 or 7 to get the Characteristic Roll and Skill Rolls down by 1, but that seemed a bit too much so I though the 8 lowering the NCM to 18 would have to be close enough to get that effect.

Now, don't get me wrong, I still want them to be pretty bloody Intimidating so I went with the "Only for PRE Attacks" thing -- originally I had this at +10 but lowered it to get the points to work out evenly. I'll see if I can find efficiencies elsewhere to get the effective PRE Attack up to 18 PRE/3.5d6 -- does this sound like a more reasonable level?

Yeah, sorry I was trying to avoid giving that impression. Since Gnolls are more based on "Spotted Hyenas" the scavengers is more of "Reputation" thing (hence the Disadvantage) I just forgot to take it out of the PS (it was a placeholder there, should just be Warrior now); that said, they still have a wee bit of scavenger left in them, as they are also partially based on "Brown Hyenas" too, but more in the 'take what you can from others rather than building it yourself' way; i.e., they prefer to hunt the prey but in order to survive have the ability to scavenge effectively (sort of a 75% Spotted, 25% Brown kindof way if you see what I'm clumsily trying to get at) -- basically, I wanted the Reputation to have some basis but be largely overstated as they really are fearsome predators not just bottom feeders.

**Hierax** · Jan 10th, '04 07:45 PM

OK, I just fiddled with it and by reducing the Tracking Skill to Familiarity (which makes sense for a base template, since it can be bought up for the real tracking individuals of the race) it gives just enough points to increase the PRE to "PRE +10 Only for PRE Attacks or Intimitation" giving a total of 18 PRE or 3.5d6 for a PRE Attack, or 13- for an Intimidating use of persusion (1.5d6 or 11- for friendly persuasion).

Hope that helps...

**nHammer** · Jan 11th, '04 09:18 AM

The PRE is so low because I didn't want Gnolls to be particularly persuasive beyond using force or threats (and I like to keep the two distinct to seperate the diplomats from the thugs, if you will); you see, I wanted them to be less persuasive than humans and certainly not more persuasive, I thought about lowering it to 6 or 7 to get the Characteristic Roll and Skill Rolls down by 1, but that seemed a bit too much so I though the 8 lowering the NCM to 18 would have to be close enough to get that effect.

I see what you mean. It makes sense.

**Hierax** · Jan 11th, '04 10:04 AM

Sorry, I forgot to post the update in my message yesterday.

Gnoll (Standard 100 Point Warrior)

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Val </td><td>Char </td><td>Cost</td></tr><tr><td align="right">20 </td><td>STR</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td align="right">10 </td><td>DEX</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">15 </td><td>CON</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td align="right">13 </td><td>BODY</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td align="right">8 </td><td>INT</td><td>-2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">10 </td><td>EGO</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">8/18 </td><td>PRE</td><td>-2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">8 </td><td>COM</td><td>-1</td></tr><tr><td align="right">6 </td><td>PD</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">5 </td><td>ED</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">2 </td><td>SPD</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">8 </td><td>REC</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">30 </td><td>END</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">36 </td><td>STUN</td><td>5</td></tr><td></td><td> </td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right">7" </td><td>RUN</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td align="right">2" </td><td>SWIM</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td align="right">4" </td><td>LEAP</td><td>0</td></tr></table>Characteristics Cost: 34

<table border="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td align="right">Cost </td><td>Power</td><td align="right">END</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">2 </td><td>Thick Fur/Tough Skin: Damage Resistance (2 PD/2 ED) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">15 </td><td>Fangs: Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 1/2d6 (1d6+1 w/STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (15 Active Points) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">2 </td><td>+2 PER with Normal Smell </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">5 </td><td>Discriminatory with Normal Smell </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">5 </td><td>Tracking with Normal Smell </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">2 </td><td>+2 PER with Normal Hearing </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">3 </td><td>Ultrasonic Perception (Hearing Group) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">5 </td><td>Infrared Perception (Sight Group) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">5 </td><td>Intimidating: +10 PRE (10 Active Points); Limited Power (Only for PRE Attacks and Intimidation) (-1) </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">2 </td><td>Large (7.5' Tall): Knockback Resistance -1" </td><td valign="top" align="right"></td></tr></table>Powers Cost: 46

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Cost </td><td>Skill</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">8 </td><td>+1 with All Combat </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">4 </td><td>WF: Common Melee Weapons, Common Missile Weapons </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">0 </td><td>Language: Gnoll (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1 </td><td>Language: Orc or Hobgoblin (basic conversation) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1 </td><td>Language: Troll (basic conversation) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1 </td><td>Mimicry 8- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">2 </td><td>PS: Warrior 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">2 </td><td>Survival 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">1 </td><td>Tracking 8- </td></tr></table>Skills Cost: 20

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right">Val </td><td>Disadvantages</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Distinctive Features (and Social Limitation)- Gnoll: (Easily Concealed; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">20 </td><td>Normal Gnoll Characteristic Maxima </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Physical Limitation - Short-Lived (~35 Years): (Infrequently, Slightly Impairing) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Psychological Limitation - Hatred of Felines and Canines: (Uncommon, Moderate) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Psychological Limitation - Lazy (Dislike Physical Work): (Uncommon, Moderate) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Dislike Bright Light (Uncommon, Moderate) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5 </td><td>Reputation: coward, scavenger, lazy, bully, slaver, demon-worshipper, 8- </td></tr></table>
Disadvantage Points: 50

Base Points: 50
Experience Required: 0
Total Experience Available: 0
Experience Unspent: 0
Total Character Cost: 100
 
<table width="100%" valign="top"><tr valign="top"><td>Height: 2.29 m</td><td>Hair: Reddish-Yellow</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Weight: 160.00 kg</td><td>Eyes: Green</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Appearance: A typical Gnoll is 7.5' tall weighing around 350 lbs. Gnoll fur is most often spotted Reddish-Yellow but may be striped or brown as well.</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Personality: Hunt and Kill</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Quote:</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Background: Often mistaken for Dog-Humanoids, Gnolls are actually Hyena-Humanoids. Gnolls are ferocious humanoids of low intelligence. They resemble a cross between a human and a hyena. They live in rough, rugged wasteland and wilderness areas. Gnolls may use all weapons, but most do not work metal; they steal most of their metal weapons from humans. They are strong, but dislike work and prefer to bully and steal (D&D Rules Cyclopedia p.180). Gnolls are large, evil, hyena-like humanoids that roam about in loosely organized bands. While the body of a gnoll is shaped like that of a large human, the details are those of a hyena. They stand erect on two legs and have hands that can manipulate as well as those of any human. They have greenish gray skin, darker near the muzzle, with a short reddish gray to dull yellow mane. (2e-MM) - Can actually eat and digest bone Sources: - DD-RC.180; 1e-MM.46; 2e-MM.158; 3e-MM.105-106; HM-HoB.v?.??. - "Gnolls, those Dog-Faced Killers" ( http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=books/fr/gnolls ) - http://www.callofthenightwalker.com/gnoll.htm - http://www.korinth.com/3eKorinthCont...es/gnoll.shtml - Hero: Gnolls are Hyena-Humanoids and while Hyenas are neither dogs nor cats, the write-ups on "Erqigdlit" MMM.38 and "Pakasa" MMM.80 still are useful points of comparison for animal-based humanoids. - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: "The Pack" (Season 1, Episode 6) where Xander and some bullies get possessed by Hyenas. - Hyenas: - "The Hyena Pages" ( http://www.liberalmafia.org/hyenas/ ) - http://www.lioncrusher.com/family.asp?family=Hyaenidae - http://sailfish.exis.net/~spook/hyenatxt.html</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Powers/Tactics: Prey on the Weak, Taunt and Tease, Lure and Ambush</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2>Campaign Use: Standard NPC Monster humanoid: bigger than an Orc or even Hobgoblin, slightly smaller than a Bugbear or Ogre. When you want the characters hunted by an unruly Pack.</td></tr></table>

**BobGreenwade** · Jan 11th, '04 10:07 AM

So if one of these guys smokes cannibis, would that make him a grassy Gnoll?

**TheQuestionMan** · Jan 11th, '04 03:30 PM

Originally posted by BobGreenwade
So if one of these guys smokes cannibis, would that make him a grassy Gnoll?

BAD BAD BOB !!!

**nHammer** · Jan 11th, '04 06:15 PM

Originally posted by BobGreenwade
So if one of these guys smokes cannibis, would that make him a grassy Gnoll?

Grassy Gnoll is a monster in the card game Munshkin(sp?).

**TalonComics** · Jan 11th, '04 07:13 PM

Originally posted by BobGreenwade
So if one of these guys smokes cannibis, would that make him a grassy Gnoll?

Oh yeah? If one of the gnolls ate a lot of beans he'd then become a "gassy gnoll!"

~D

**Tamashii2000** · Jan 12th, '04 04:01 PM

Originally posted by BobGreenwade
So if one of these guys smokes cannibis, would that make him a grassy Gnoll?

Maybe, but you do know what the creator of all Gnoll music was called don't you?

The First Gnoll.....

**Eosin** · Jan 12th, '04 09:58 PM

Hierax...

Your write ups rock on toast! Thanks allot for doing some of these and saving me a ton of work. Any chance that you will put the hero file on your website...I would really like to drag and drop a few of these into my game.

[Plus...any problem with me including some of the write ups on my site at some point in the future with proper credit to you]

Thanks,

Eosin

**Hierax** · Jan 12th, '04 11:10 PM

Thanks, Eosin!

Yeah, that's why I was looking for some feedback so I could get these guys into good enough shape to post on my website along with the printable .pdfs.

In fact, I fully intend to have actual template and character files (.hdt, .hdc) that can be downloaded and serve as starting points for customization to create individuals of those races. I was also going to upload the Hero Designer files to the boards here once I'm happy I have a workable version 1.0.

Hey, as long as credit is given where due, I have no problem with you having them on your site; actually, it is quite an honour to have you ask.

I can send you the rough draft files pretty much whenever you want, but in a week or so (or two, depending on how things go with work and visiting relatives) I should have the basic humanoid races revised and have proper template files with full NCMs included. Feel free to e-mail me and I'll get you what I can whenever you need it...

**Tech** · Jan 13th, '04 09:18 AM

Nice structure of the stats. Overall, nicely revised.

Of course, the stats would be way different if the Gnoll was in Star Hero...

"To boldly go where Gnoll one has gone before"

Thread: Monster/Race: Gnoll (Hyena Humanoid)

Thread Tools

Display

Monster/Race: Gnoll (Hyena Humanoid)

Growth Equivalent Implicit

PRE and Scavenging

PRE for PRE Attacks

Gnoll (Hieraxian) 2nd Draft

BAD BAD BOB !!! :)

HDC/HDT Files

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions